King Norodom Sihamoni today encouraged monks, laymen, the nuns and state institutions to promote Buddhism, as the cool shade under which solidarity and harmony between Khmers can flourish.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a new high school inside Wat Chumpou Voan, the oldest temple in Phnom Penh built in 1902, the King said: “Buddhism plays an important role in educating the people, promoting and upholding traditional Khmer moral values and encouraging the solidarity and harmony of Cambodians.”

“I appreciate establishing more temples, seminaries, Buddhist and Pali schools as well as other achievements [by the Kingdom] so far. These have shown the development of Buddhism in Cambodia,” he said.

Khuong Sreng, governor of Phnom Penh, said that the government provides the people with peace, stability, national unity, democracy and openness in religious practice so that Buddhists in the country can live in harmony.

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